Persichilli has been on the job about seven months and is the latest in a long line of communications directors who have come and gone during Harper’s six years in office. Harper is now searching for his seventh director of communications (if you include his transition from opposition into the Prime Minister’s Office).

“With considerable regret, I have informed Prime Minister Stephen Harper that I am resigning from my position as director of communications, effective once my successor is appointed. This is a prestigious position that requires extremely intense effort and very long hours, which at a certain age, are not an option for a long period of time,” Persichilli, who’s in his 60s, says in the email.

Angelo Persichilli has resigned as Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of communications after only seven months on the job.

“At this time, I would like to express my thanks to members of the media at all levels for their professionalism and fair-mindedness in our dealings, as well as my appreciation to my colleagues in the Prime Minister’s Office, to the members of the cabinet and Conservative caucus, and to the federal public service, with all of whom I have greatly valued the privilege of working,” he adds.

“Most of all, I would like to thank Prime Minister Stephen Harper for the opportunity to serve him during this exciting period. It has been an honour.”

Harper named Persichilli his new communications director in late August and he started in his position last September. He is a former Toronto journalist with deep roots in the ethnic community and was a long-time political editor for the Italian-language newspaper Corriere Canadese.

Persichilli, who was the first journalist to serve as Harper’s communications director, replaced Dimitri Soudas in the position. His hiring was seen as a signal that Harper was determined to solidify the success he has scored with ethnic voters. Persichilli is not fluent in French.

Senior Parliament Hill reporter for the Ottawa Citizen, politics junkie, wannabe pro golfer and someone who has wordsmithed at newspapers in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan. I've covered politics at... read more every level, including city hall in Ottawa and Calgary, the Alberta legislature in Edmonton and now back in Ottawa covering the Hill.View author's profile